mgpcpastor's blog

A couple of sources of information as prayers are prepared for services tomorrow.
Both of these are freely available around the net and are marked as okay for distribution.

From MERF (Middle Eastern Reformed Fellowship)

Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters,
Security concerns have kept MERF’s ministry center in Cairo, Egypt closed for three days. So far, no staff or ministry partners have been physically hurt. Christians are especially targeted by Islamists because they are unarmed and cannot fight back. Yet, the international media has given little attention to the dangers facing Christian communities in Egypt.
About 38 people of Christian background lost their lives (including two police officers) and over 200 were injured by the Islamists attacks on police centers, homes, businesses and churches. At least 64 churches were attacked, including 8 evangelical buildings. This was mostly in Upper Egypt, where there are significant numbers of Christians. Some were completely burned down. Over 400 hundred businesses and shops and many more Christian homes have been attacked, burglarized and/or burned. In the city of Malawi (central Egypt), Christian families have been forced from their homes taken over by Islamists from other cities.
The interim government pledged to rebuild all destroyed churches. Egyptian Church leaders made public statements calling Christians to be forgiving and to trust only in the Lord’s protection and not seek or expect any help from Western or other nations. Prayer chains have been established throughout the country.
There is special concern over the well-being of Muslim converts, pastors and others discipling secret seekers. Under Morsi’s one year presidency, information was gathered on some that might have come into the hands of Islamic militias.
A famous Egyptian TV journalist, Youssif Al_Housainy, a nominal Muslim, has been quoting regularly from the Sermon on the Mount on his weekly show. This week, in the light of the attacks on Christians and churches, he quoted Matthew 5:11-12, commenting: “Islamists are told that they are blessed if they die killing their enemies and fighting for their cause, yet the heavenly message of Christ is that the oppressed and persecuted are the ones who receive abiding eternal rewards!”
MERF’s Arabic gospel broadcast and literature production continues in both Egypt and Lebanon. Several Egyptian staff are able to work from home. We thank the Lord for these and other MERF ministries in His plan to call out His people from among Muslims in Egypt and elsewhere. He seems to be preparing many hearts for the Gospel of God’s grace and peace in Christ.
Join us in earnest prayer for the safety of God’s people in Egypt and Syria and for continued fruitful Gospel ministry.
Please share this message with churches, families and friends.
With gratitude for your partnership in missions to Arab and Muslim peoples,
—
“Declaring the Whole Counsel of God”
Middle East Reformed Fellowship

From The Bible Society In Egypt:

Dear friends,
I have just received the sad news of the complete burning and destruction (by Muslim fundamentalists) of our Bible Society’s bookshops in Assiut & Minia (the largest cities in Southern Egypt). These were both very beautiful, fully equipped bookshops. Fortunately we were closed today, fearing such an attack, so none of our staff were injured. The attackers demolished the metal doors protecting the bookshops, broke the store windows behind them and set the bookshops on fire. They did the same to many stores on those streets as well as demolishing many parked cars.
Similar incidents are taking place across the nation and to date 15 churches and 3 Christian schools have been attacked and some set on fire.
Dispersal of Sit-ins
Most of you know by now that the Egyptian police, supported by the army, have dispersed the demonstrators from one of the big sit-ins of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) protesters and are working now to evacuate the other, larger one.
To understand why most residents of Cairo feel that these sit-ins should not continue, you should imagine how long residents of New York – or your own city – would tolerate the following scenario:-
Imagine more than 10,000 protestors camped for six weeks in Times Square in New York. No traffic can go through the square and, as a result, all other traffic in the area becomes congested, especially at rush hour. People and businesses in the surrounding buildings have their lives completely disrupted – they can hardly get access to their shops or homes and cannot stand the stench of 10,000 people in the middle of summer using the street and sidewalks as housing. In addition these strangers have set up their own shops and facilities in the middle of the streets. So it is a very scary scene. Add to this the non-stop onslaught of speeches blaring from loudspeakers all day long, and those living in Times Square will neither rest nor sleep as long as the sit-in continues!
In retaliation for the government dispersing the sit-ins, this morning Muslim Brotherhood leaders called for nation-wide protests. In response to these calls, Muslim fundamentalists all over Egypt have gone on a rampage of violence; some of it aimed at Christian targets, but also targeting government institutions, police stations and private property especially parked cars.
One of the reasons why the government has been so reticent in dispersing the sit-ins was precisely because of the MB’s many threats of retaliation. So most Egyptians expected the violence. Nevertheless, it is heartbreaking to watch on TV this bloodshed between fellow-Egyptians unfolding before our eyes.
Trusting God for the future
It is important to underline that — while some Christian properties have been the victim of this violence — they are by no means the only ones targeted. This is an attack against the State by a violent minority in an attempt to destabilize the Nation.

Please pray….
That the government may manage to disperse the remaining sit-in with as few injuries and loss of life as possible.
That these sad incidents would not increase the alienation of the MBs but that they would somehow be re-integrated into Egyptian society.
For protection for all Christian properties across the Nation.
For Christians to have a spirit of forgiveness and love towards those who are perceived as being our enemies.
The Bible Society of Egypt has been in operation for 129 years and this is the first time we have been the victims of such attacks. We thank God for His protection, praise Him that none of our staff were injured, and are determined – as soon as things settle down – to rapidly restore these two bookshops to continue providing God’s Word in those two strategic cities.

Sincerely in Christ,

Ramez Atallah
General Director
The Bible Society of Egypt